Ernest Kimme: Measure A will provide needed funds for upgrades

After a year of work, the Vacaville School Board finally approved a Bond Measure for the November ballot. Officially called Measure A, its goal is to make sure that all students have the same access to a 21st century education.

Measure A itself is pretty simple: it authorizes the school board to sell bonds, to be repaid through our property tax bills - about $5 a month per $100,000 assessment. Or to put it another way: it's the cost of a Starbucks coffee once a month.

That money will go toward bringing all schools up to date. Vaca High, as one of the oldest and most used schools in the district, gets the biggest chunk of money. Their projects include a new 2 story classroom building, replacing the leased portable classrooms with permanent classrooms, and major modernization for all classrooms. That means more electrical outlets, internet wiring, upgraded electrical panels, modern high efficiency heating and cooling, replacing 60 year old plumbing, and in general building classrooms in which teachers can truly prepare students for jobs in the 21st century. I am pleased that the vocational education classes — the auto/metal shop and the culinary arts classroom — will both get upgrades.

Jepson Middle School is another old school and will be getting much the same treatment. Jepson teachers report having to be careful about plugging in computers and other technology. First, there are not many electrical outlets in classrooms, and second, it's easy to pop the circuit breakers. Plumbing, especially in the bathrooms, needs to be replaced. The HVAC will be modernized, also; classrooms are often freezing in the winter, and stifling in the summer.

Markham Elementary School is another old school, needing a significant amount of modernization. Many of the portables are past their usable life, and will be replaced with permanent buildings. Markham's multipurpose room was built when the school was much smaller; it will be replaced with a bigger, more versatile MP room. All the classrooms need more electrical outlets, robust internet access, and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.

This is the pattern across the district. The bulk of the money is going to the older schools on the north side of Vacaville. Vaca High needs a complete make-over, as does Jepson, and most of the schools on the north side.

South side schools are more recent, built to higher standards, and don't need much work. Wood just needs a stadium to bring it up to par with Vaca High — a stadium which, by the way, will cost much less than Vaca High's upgrades. I have heard grumbles from some north side residents that they do not want to pay for a stadium for Will C Wood High School. Those folks do not understand what Measure A is doing: bringing ALL schools up to the same educational standards.

Some grumble about the cost of financing — that too many of our tax dollars will merely pay off the interest. By the same reasoning, you would never buy a house or a car, because most of your payments would go toward interest on the debt. It's how we finance big purchases in our society. Keep in mind that interest rates are at all time lows right now.

I also support improving our schools, however, because they are a significant part of our economic development. Companies interested in Vacaville look closely at our schools. Both Icon and Genentech located in Vacaville in part because local schools were willing to create training programs for potential employees. Good schools help bring good jobs to our community. Investing in our schools creates much more than just pretty school buildings.

Bottom line: Vacaville's Measure A will allow all our schools to teach for the twenty-first century — all for about $5 a month.

The author is a Vacaville resident and member of The Reporter editorial board. E-mail: egk3@mac.com.